100 Playground Games for Children

S Quick P

Description

Throughout childhood, play provides a vital role in children's development. Physical activities at playtime not only give children opportunities to get rid of pent-up energy or emotions but also help to keep them fit. Health organisations recognise that children should engage in a range of physical activities, including those of moderate intensity and also those that develop muscular strength and flexibility. For some children playtime may be the only opportunity they have to do this.This book is packed with ideas for playground games. There are 100 games in all which cover chasing, dodging and fleeing, listening and guessing, games needing equipment or markings, skipping rhymes, co-operative games, clapping games and singing games. Many of the games can also be used in other situations.

Sujets

• Education

Informations

• Publié par: Andrews UK
• Date de parution: 11 juillet 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781785380624
• Langue: English

Extrait

Title Page
100 PLAYGROUND GAMES FOR CHILDREN

PS Quick



Publisher Information
Published in 2014 by
Andrews UK Limited
www.andrewsuk.com
The right of PS Quick to be identified as the Author of this Work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1998
Copyright © 2014 PS Quick
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Any person who does so may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.



Introduction
The Importance of Play
Throughout childhood, play provides a vital role in children’s development. Physical activities at playtime not only give children opportunities to get rid of pent-up energy or emotions but also help to keep them fit. Health organisations recognise that children should engage in a range of physical activities, including those of moderate intensity and also those that develop muscular strength and flexibility. For some children playtime may be the only opportunity they have to do this.
As well as keeping fit, developing physical strength, balance and co-ordination, children should have the time to be inventive, creative and use their imagination. Many playground games enable children to do this while learning to keep themselves safe and develop their thinking and problem solving skills.
Play provides a means by which to develop social skills and confidence. Children learn to communicate and collaborate with others. They develop their own moral values and learn behaviour that is acceptable as well as being able to empathise with others and not be tempted into bullying. Sharing a well known game is a wonderful ice-breaker at the beginning of term or when a child is new to a group.
Children should have the chance to play their own games or engage in ‘quiet activities’ such as reading or talking together. However, it is also important to introduce them to a variety of activities which include ideas that stimulate them to be active, use their initiative and learn new skills.
It is a good idea to have different zones within the playground so that there are areas for quiet activities, areas where equipment is used and other areas where children can move freely and safely when playing a group game. Having different zones helps to provide playground safety.
Playtime can also be enhanced by ensuring children are not left out, have no ideas of their own to engage in play or just need some suggestions of new activities to challenge them. Providing something such as a ‘Bus Stop’ where children can wait for a new friend if they are alone or having ‘Playground Buddies’ to see that things run smoothly are two ideas.
Playground markings are also a way of encouraging children to participate. Markings such as Hop Scotch, Snakes and Ladders, a number line or different shapes provide a base for a number of games. A wall against which balls can be bounced or kicked is useful as well as netball rings or football goals which can be used as target practice.



Chasing, Dodging and Fleeing Games
Chasing, dodging and fleeing games are probably the most popular physical children’s games and have been played in one form or another since ancient times.
Once children have learned different ways of travelling and developed their spacial awareness these games, which provide different challenges, help to develop the skills children need to play many sports today thus promoting a healthy lifestyle.
Please Mr Crocodile
Children choose ‘Mr Crocodile’ who pretends to guard his river. The children then chant:
“Please Mr Crocodile may we cross the water
To see your lovely daughter floating on the water
Like a cup and saucer?
What should we wear?”
Or another version is:
“Please Mr Crocodile may we cross the water,
To see the queen’s daughter, who fell in the water
100 years ago?
Which colour must we wear?”
Mr Crocodile replies by saying something such as “Only if you have Velcro on your shoes” or “Only if you are wearing something green. If children have something that matches the criteria they are given they walk across the river safely. However, those left behind have to try to run across the river, dodging Mr . Crocodile. If they are caught then they are out. The last person left in the game becomes the new crocodile.
Farmer, Farmer
This is a variant on the above game. Children chant:
“Farmer, farmer, may we cross your golden river?” The farmer replies “Not unless you are wearing something blue” etc. In his criteria the farmer could use ages, classes, materials or a variety of other things.
The game can be played by the rules of ‘Please Mr Crocodile’ or varied by anyone who is caught joining hands with the farmer in order to help him catch more children .
Green Light, Red Light
One person is chosen to be the caller who changes the light and stands with their back to the other children who line up across the playground. The caller counts to 10 and then shouts “Green Light” before quickly turning around as the others move towards her/him.
When the caller shouts “Red Light” everyone must freeze. Anyone who is spotted still moving must return to the starting line. The sequence is repeated until one person is near enough to tag the caller. A new game then starts with this person as the caller.
Cat and Mice
One child is chosen to be the cat and another is chosen to be the mouse. The remaining children join hands to form a circle with the cat outside and the mouse inside.
The children in the circle move clockwise while chanting:
“What time is it?”
“It’s just struck nine.”
“Is the cat at home?”
“He’s about to dine!”
When the rhyme is completed the children remain still but stand holding hands so there is a gap between each of them. At this point the cat begins to chase the mouse by weaving in and out of the circle of children. The cat must follow the same path as the mouse.
On being caught the cat pretends to eat the mouse before two more children take on these roles and the game begins again.
What’s the Time Mr Wolf?
One person is chosen to be Mr Wolf and stands at one end of the playground. This represents ‘Home’. The wolf faces away from the other children who stand in a line at the opposite end. The children then chant:
What’s the time Mr Wolf?”
Mr Wolf then replies
Four o’clock (or any other hour)
Children then take this number of steps towards the wolf. The children ask the same question again and the wolf continues to reply until the children are very near to him. At this stage he will shout “Dinner Time” before turning round and chasing the children, trying to catch one of them. Anyone caught becomes Mr Wolf.
If a child reaches Mr Wolf before he calls “Dinner Time” they tap him on the shoulder before running for home. Mr Wolf has the opportunity to chase them before they run safely home.
Fox and Goose
This is an energetic game which is best played with a small group of children. Five is an ideal number. One person is chosen to be the fox and another chosen to be the goose. Children hold hands in a circle with the goose standing inside the circle and the fox outside.
The fox tries to touch the goose but must remain outside the circle and has one minute to do this. The children in the circle try to protect the goose by dodging from side to side to prevent the goose being caught. At the end of the minute other children are chosen to be the fox and goose.
Spider and Flies
One child is chosen to be the spider while the rest pretend to be flies. The spider chases the flies and any that are caught become part of its web.
Once caught the flies hold hands with the spider and try to catch the remaining flies. The last child to be caught becomes the new spider.
Duck, Duck, Goose
One child is chosen to be the ‘Tapper’ and the others sit in a large circle facing inwards. The tapper walks around touching each child saying “Duck, Duck, Duck... until he decides to tap a child and say “Goose”.
The goose quickly jumps up and chases the tapper around the circle, trying to catch him before he gets back to where the goose was sitting. If the tapper succeeds in doing this the goose becomes the new tapper. If he doesn’t catch the goose then he keeps his role as tapper.
Dinosaur
This game is another version of Duck, duck, goose.
Everyone stands in a circle except for one child who walks around the outside of the circle tapping each child on the shoulder while saying their name. After a time instead of saying the child’s name the caller shouts out “Dinosaur”.
The child who has been tapped as a dinosaur quickly jumps up and chases the first child around the circle, trying to catch him before he is able to sit down in the empty space. If successful the first child has to resume his original role naming the children around the circle. If unsuccessful then the second child takes on the role.
The game can be varied by having to say the name of a dinosaur such as ‘Tyrannosaurus’, instead of just the word ‘dinosaur’.
Moonlight, Moonlight
One child is chosen to be the ghost and goes to hide somewhere in the playground while the rest of the group close their eyes and count to twenty. No cheating!
On finishing the count the group walk together around the playground while chanting “Moonlight, moonlight, will we see a ghost tonight?”
The group must s